Cleaner jobs in Italy can be a practical entry point for people looking for employment in Europe without needing a university degree or highly specialized professional qualification. Cleaning workers are employed by hotels, offices, hospitals, restaurants, shopping centres, factories, private households, schools and professional cleaning companies.
Italy’s labour market continues to advertise cleaning and support-service positions. EURES, the European Union’s employment network, identifies cleaners among the occupations sought by Italian employers, while cleaning staff are also reported as being needed in tourism and hospitality.
For international applicants, however, it is important to understand the difference between finding a vacancy and being legally allowed to work in Italy. EU citizens generally do not need a work permit to take employment in Italy. Non-EU nationals normally need an employer-sponsored immigration procedure and the appropriate visa/residence authorization.
This guide explains the main types of cleaner jobs, expected salaries, requirements, application process and work-visa considerations for 2026.
Why Cleaner Jobs in Italy Are Worth Considering
Cleaning work is often attractive because the entry requirements can be lower than those for professional occupations.
According to Indeed Italy’s June 2026 career guide, cleaner positions generally do not require a particular educational qualification, while experience, reliability and practical cleaning skills can help workers progress to positions with greater responsibility.
Some of the main advantages include:
- No university degree is normally required.
- Previous cleaning experience can improve your chances.
- Jobs are available in several industries.
- Both full-time and part-time positions exist.
- Hotels create additional seasonal opportunities.
- Experienced workers can move into supervisory positions.
- Some employers recruit through professional cleaning companies.
- Hospitality jobs can be combined with accommodation arrangements in certain cases.
- Italian-language skills can improve communication and employment prospects.
The exact benefits depend on the employer and employment contract. A written Italian employment contract should specify important details such as the job category, duties, working hours, remuneration, workplace and applicable collective agreement.
Types of Cleaner Jobs Available in Italy
Cleaner is a broad job category. Your duties and salary can vary significantly depending on the workplace, hours and level of responsibility.
| Job Position | Typical Estimated Monthly Pay* |
|---|---|
| Hotel Room Cleaner / Housekeeper | €1,000–€1,500 |
| Office Cleaner | €900–€1,400 |
| Domestic Cleaner | €900–€1,500 |
| Industrial Cleaner | €1,100–€1,600+ |
| Hospital / Healthcare Cleaner | €1,000–€1,500+ |
| Restaurant Cleaner | €900–€1,400 |
| School Cleaner | €900–€1,400 |
| Shopping Centre Cleaner | €900–€1,400 |
| Public Building Cleaner | €1,000–€1,500 |
| Cleaning Team Leader / Supervisor | €1,400–€2,000+ |
*These are broad estimates rather than guaranteed salaries. Actual pay depends on full-time or part-time hours, collective agreement, location, experience, employer and overtime.
Current job advertisements show considerable variation. For example, Indeed’s Italy listings in August 2026 included cleaner vacancies around €1,000–€1,800 per month for some hotel positions, €1,250–€1,400 for some hotel-cleaning roles in Rome, and other positions offering approximately €1,000–€2,000 for full-time work.
1. Hotel Cleaner / Room Attendant
Hotel cleaners are responsible for guest rooms and common areas.
Typical duties include:
- Making beds
- Changing towels and linens
- Cleaning bathrooms
- Vacuuming and mopping floors
- Dusting furniture
- Replenishing hotel supplies
- Reporting damaged items
- Maintaining hygiene standards
These jobs are particularly relevant in tourist destinations and during busy seasons.
2. Office Cleaner
Office cleaners usually work before or after normal business hours.
Responsibilities can include:
- Cleaning offices
- Emptying waste bins
- Cleaning kitchens and break rooms
- Sanitizing bathrooms
- Vacuuming carpets
- Mopping floors
- Cleaning windows and surfaces
Part-time contracts are common in this area, so applicants should carefully check the number of guaranteed working hours.
3. Industrial Cleaner
Industrial cleaning can involve factories, warehouses, production facilities and other large workplaces.
Workers may clean:
- Production areas
- Machinery surroundings
- Floors
- Storage areas
- Industrial equipment
- Common facilities
Industrial cleaning can require additional safety training because workers may encounter machinery, chemicals or workplace hazards. Indeed’s 2026 career information reports higher average annual earnings for industrial cleaning than its general cleaner category, although individual salaries vary substantially.
4. Hospital and Healthcare Cleaner
Healthcare cleaning requires particular attention to hygiene and sanitation.
Workers may clean:
- Hospital corridors
- Patient rooms
- Waiting areas
- Bathrooms
- Offices
- Clinical support areas
Employers may provide or require specific training concerning hygiene, protective equipment and safe handling of cleaning products.
5. Domestic Cleaner / Housekeeper
Domestic cleaners work in private homes or residential properties.
Tasks may include:
- General house cleaning
- Laundry
- Ironing
- Kitchen cleaning
- Bathroom cleaning
- Dusting
- Organizing rooms
Some domestic employment arrangements can be live-in positions. EURES specifically notes housekeepers and domestic workers among occupations where live-in arrangements can occur, potentially including board and lodging.
Cleaner Salary in Italy
There is no single national salary for every cleaner because contracts, working hours and job classifications differ.
Indeed’s Italy salary data updated in August 2026 reports an average base figure of approximately €825 per month for the cleaner job title across its reported data. However, that figure includes part-time positions, so it should not be treated as the guaranteed salary for a full-time worker. Indeed’s current listings show full-time and part-time jobs with substantially different pay levels.
The collective agreement and classification can also make a major difference. Indeed’s 2026 guide lists monthly CCNL minimum figures ranging from approximately €1,176 to €1,580 across the cited levels, depending on classification.
What affects your salary?
Your earnings can depend on:
- Number of working hours
- Full-time vs. part-time contract
- Experience
- Employer
- City or region
- Hotel category
- Industrial vs. domestic cleaning
- Night or weekend work
- Overtime
- Responsibilities
- Collective labour agreement
- Seasonal demand
Always ask whether the advertised salary is gross or net, how many hours are guaranteed and which collective agreement applies.
Best Places to Look for Cleaner Jobs in Italy
Job seekers should use reputable employment websites rather than relying on social media posts or unverified recruiters.
EURES
EURES – European Job Mobility Portal
EURES is particularly useful for people searching for jobs across Europe. Its services include job searching, labour-market information and support for people planning to work in another European country.
Cliclavoro
Italy Ministry of Labour – Cliclavoro
Cliclavoro is the Italian Ministry of Labour’s employment portal. EURES confirms that the portal publishes vacancies throughout Italy and allows candidates to submit CVs for advertised positions.
Indeed Italy
Search terms such as “addetto alle pulizie,” “addetta alle pulizie,” “pulizie hotel,” “operatore pulizie” and “addetto pulizie industriali” can help you find relevant vacancies.
Company Career Pages
Large hotels, facility-management companies, cleaning contractors and hospitality businesses often publish vacancies directly on their websites.
Step-by-Step: How to Apply for Cleaner Jobs in Italy
Step 1: Prepare Your CV
Create a simple CV containing:
- Full name
- Contact details
- Nationality
- Current location
- Work experience
- Cleaning experience
- Languages
- Education
- Professional training
- References, if available
If you have worked in hotels, hospitals, factories, offices or private homes, clearly mention those environments.
Step 2: Search Using Italian Job Titles
Searching only for “cleaner jobs in Italy” may miss vacancies.
Try:
- Addetto alle pulizie
- Addetta alle pulizie
- Operatore delle pulizie
- Pulizie hotel
- Cameriera ai piani
- Addetto pulizie industriali
- Pulizie uffici
- Addetto sanificazione
- Housekeeping
- Pulizie domestiche
Step 3: Check the Contract
Before accepting an offer, confirm:
- Salary
- Working hours
- Contract duration
- Job location
- Overtime arrangements
- Rest days
- Accommodation, if offered
- Transportation, if offered
- Applicable CCNL
- Probation period
Italian employment contracts are required to be in writing and should include core employment information.
Step 4: Complete the Interview
Employers may ask about:
- Previous cleaning experience
- Availability
- Working hours
- Ability to work weekends
- Knowledge of cleaning products
- Experience with cleaning machinery
- Ability to work independently
- Italian-language ability
Be honest about your experience and immigration status.
Step 5: Obtain the Required Work Authorization
If you are already legally entitled to work in Italy, follow the relevant employment procedure.
If you are a non-EU applicant living outside Italy, the employer normally plays an important role in the immigration process. Do not travel to Italy on a tourist visa with the intention of illegally working.
Visa Requirements for Non-EU Applicants
This is one of the most important parts of the process for applicants from countries such as Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal and other non-EU countries.
Italy operates annual immigration quotas under its Decreto Flussi system for eligible foreign workers.
For 2026, Italy authorized:
- 76,200 entries for non-seasonal subordinate employment
- 88,000 entries for seasonal subordinate employment
- 650 entries for self-employment
Applications are subject to the applicable quota and immigration procedure. The official 2026 information states that applications can be submitted through the relevant system through 31 December 2026, subject to quota availability.
Official Italy 2026 Decreto Flussi information
General process for a non-EU worker
The process generally involves:
- Finding an Italian employer willing and able to hire you.
- The employer initiating the required immigration/work authorization procedure.
- The application being handled through Italy’s immigration authorities and applicable quota.
- Once the required authorization is issued, the worker applies for the appropriate Italian employment visa through the relevant Italian diplomatic mission.
- After entering Italy, the worker completes the required residence and employment formalities.
The exact procedure can vary according to nationality, employment category and current immigration rules. Official Italian immigration guidance should therefore be checked before submitting documents or paying any agent.
Italian immigration and work-entry information
Eligibility Requirements
Cleaner jobs generally have relatively accessible educational requirements, but employers can set their own conditions.
Common requirements include:
- Legal eligibility to work in Italy
- Basic physical fitness for cleaning duties
- Reliability and punctuality
- Ability to follow instructions
- Basic hygiene knowledge
- Ability to use cleaning equipment safely
- Previous experience, where requested
- Basic Italian communication skills
- Willingness to work flexible shifts
A formal degree is generally not required for ordinary cleaning positions.
For specialized environments such as hospitals or industrial facilities, additional safety or workplace training may be required.
Skills That Can Help You Get Hired
Even when formal qualifications are not required, the following skills can make your application stronger:
- Attention to detail
- Time management
- Physical stamina
- Reliability
- Teamwork
- Basic Italian
- Knowledge of cleaning chemicals
- Safe handling of equipment
- Ability to follow hygiene procedures
- Customer-service skills for hotel positions
Learning basic Italian phrases can be especially useful because cleaning workers frequently communicate with supervisors, hotel staff, customers or household employers.
Documents You May Need
The exact documents depend on your circumstances and the employer’s requirements.
Common documents can include:
- Valid passport
- Updated CV
- Passport-size photographs
- Employment offer or contract
- Work authorization documentation, where required
- Italian employment visa, for eligible non-EU workers
- Proof of accommodation, where required
- Educational or training certificates, if relevant
- Previous employment references
- Police or background documents where specifically requested
- Medical or fitness documentation where required
Do not submit original documents to an unknown recruiter unless the procedure specifically requires it and you understand why they are needed.
How to Avoid Fake Cleaner Job Offers
International job seekers are frequently targeted by fake recruitment advertisements.
Be careful if someone:
- Guarantees an Italian visa without an employer.
- Promises extremely high wages for simple cleaning work.
- Demands a large payment before showing a contract.
- Refuses to identify the employer.
- Uses only WhatsApp and has no verifiable company information.
- Requests your passport without a legitimate reason.
- Claims that a tourist visa can be converted into a guaranteed work visa.
- Says you can bypass Italian immigration rules.
Verify the employer and vacancy independently. Whenever possible, apply through established employment portals or the company’s official careers page.
Cleaner Jobs in Italy: Full-Time vs. Part-Time
One important issue is working hours.
Some cleaner advertisements are part-time positions, which explains why online salary averages can appear lower than the monthly amounts advertised for full-time jobs.
For example, current Indeed listings include both part-time jobs paying several hundred euros per month and full-time opportunities reaching €1,400–€1,800 or more depending on the position.
Before accepting an offer, calculate the expected monthly income from:
Hourly rate × guaranteed working hours + applicable overtime/allowances
This gives you a better understanding of what you can realistically earn.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can foreigners apply for cleaner jobs in Italy?
Yes. Foreigners can apply, but non-EU nationals generally need the appropriate legal authorization to work in Italy. Finding a job does not automatically give someone the right to work. The employer and immigration authorities must follow the applicable procedure.
2. Do I need a degree to become a cleaner in Italy?
Usually not. Ordinary cleaning positions generally focus on practical skills, reliability and the ability to perform the required duties. Indeed’s Italian career guide states that a particular educational qualification is generally not necessary for this occupation.
3. How much does a cleaner earn in Italy?
Pay varies significantly. Current salary data and job advertisements show that part-time positions can pay considerably less, while full-time jobs can reach around €1,000–€1,800 or more depending on the employer, location, experience and job type.
4. Can I get an Italy work visa for a cleaning job?
Potentially, but it depends on the job, employer, nationality, immigration category and available quota. Non-EU workers generally need an employer-supported immigration process and the appropriate employment visa. Italy’s 2026 Decreto Flussi provides specific entry quotas for foreign workers.
5. Is Italian language required?
Not always. Some employers may accept applicants with limited Italian, especially for basic cleaning duties. However, learning Italian can significantly improve communication, workplace safety and your chances of finding better opportunities.
6. Where can I find legitimate cleaner vacancies?
Start with reputable sources such as EURES, Cliclavoro, Indeed Italy, established recruitment agencies and the career pages of hotels and cleaning companies. EURES also provides information about living and working in Italy and employment mobility.
Conclusion
Cleaner jobs in Italy can provide an accessible route into the Italian labour market, particularly for applicants who have practical experience but do not hold a university degree. Opportunities exist in hotels, offices, hospitals, factories, restaurants, private homes, schools and professional cleaning companies.
The most important step is to focus on legitimate employers and legal employment procedures. EU citizens can generally work in Italy without a work permit, while non-EU applicants must meet Italy’s immigration requirements and, where applicable, obtain employer-supported authorization under the relevant immigration quota.
Start by preparing a professional CV, search using Italian job titles, compare full-time and part-time contracts, verify the employer and understand the salary before accepting an offer. If you are outside Italy, pay particular attention to the Decreto Flussi and official immigration requirements.
For current vacancies, begin with EURES and Cliclavoro, then check established private job portals and company career pages.
With the right documents, realistic salary expectations, useful cleaning skills and a legitimate employer, cleaner work can be a practical employment option for building experience and starting a career in Italy.
